For 198039 serial... If it is a leica, the serial makes it out to be a 1936 Leica IIIa. Another one that should be evaluated by an expert.

My opinion, I'd keep the M3 and the best cosmetic M4 (black perhaps).

The M3 is considered one of the best Leica cameras ever made... the quality is often considered unsurpassed even today. The issue with it is that it lacks any wide angle framelines (50-90-135). The advantage is the viewfinder's high magnification which makes it easy to line up the patches.

The 2nd body, an M4 is also a great camera and many still prefer it today. Part of the reason is that it expands the framelines to include
35. The finder can be upgraded to include different magnifications.

So M3 (CLAd) and the M4 (perhaps update the finder to that of an M6, 28-35-50-75-90-135). Neither have a meter.

Thank you very much for the advice. When you mentioned the idea of going to an official Leica dealer, I looked on the Leica website and found one nearby my house. I live in the Philadelphia area, so if it doesn't work out, I will check out the two locations you mentioned in NJ.

I looked on ebay to see the average price of an M4 and WOW! I knew they were worth something but I had no idea it that much.

Tomorrow I will call up the Leica dealer and hopefully get some more information. Thanx for the advice.

M4-1176313 - made in 1967
M4-1213504 - made in 1969
No. 198039 - model IIIa made in 1936
M3-705014 - made in 1954 and yes, a first run of the M3 (the 5015th camera)
M4-1213181 - made in 1968-69

Prices vary, the M3 is going to be quite high if in great shape, due to the 'first series' status. The M4s (I can use one, if you wanna spare one) are going to be up there as well and the IIIa is going to be probably the less expensive of the lot. I still shoot a prewar IIIa, smooth operation and perfect spacing between negatives, and I mean perfect!

Enjoy! And don't let the Leica dealers scare you into the "well, it's not worth that much because... (insert your own or their own BS here)"! If not sure, go seek second opinions.

So I talked to a Leica dealer and the salesman offered me $2000 for all 5 cameras.

The cameras are in moderate condition. They are not beat up but they are not in pristine condition. Is $2000 for all 5 cameras a fair asking price? How much is each camera worth?

Thanx

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Are you effing kidding me??? They're trying to rip you off!!!!

Read my advice: DO NOT SELL TO THAT DEALER/SALESMAN!!!

A moderate Leica M3 body alone will fetch about 700-800 bucks. On top of that you have three other M4s at about 1,000 a piece (body only), then you add the IIIa at about 250 (body only) and then you add the lenses.

You do the math...

Don't sell to a dealer, sell to a collector/user. They will give you the fair price, dealers always hit you under the belt.

A moderate Leica M3 body alone will fetch about 700-800 bucks. On top of that you have three other M4s at about 1,000 a piece (body only), then you add the IIIa at about 250 (body only) and then you add the lenses.

You do the math...

Don't sell to a dealer, sell to a collector/user. They will give you the fair price, dealers always hit you under the belt.

Click to expand...

Thanx for the advice. I am glad people are looking out for each other on this forum